Miniature, Feedback-Stabilized, Broad-Band Light Sources

Miniature, feedback-stabilized sources of broad-band light are under development for use in the illumination and calibration of imaging spectrometers and other optoelectronic scientific instruments. These sources would be designed and fabricated by use of techniques developed for semiconductor integrated circuits and extended to microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). In the original intended application, a device of this type would supplant the onboard calibrator (OBC) in NASA's airborne visible/infrared imaging spectrometer (AVIRIS).